Cream of the Crop

Bristol's Best Veggie Restaurants

As a notoriously bohemian city, it's no surprise that Bristol has a veritable feast of vegetarian hotspots. Food-loving Bristolian Lucy Harrison talks about her favourite veggie locations.

With the rise of the flexitarian diet and meat-free Mondays being a regular thing, vegetarian restaurants are cropping up more than ever before. And for good reason too. Taking the ethical reasons to one side, vegetarian food is bloody delicious. Bristol's culture mixed with its love of food has meant that a meat-free lifestyle is not only easily sustainable but incredibly good fun to explore.

So put your veggie radar on and get down to one of our top picks to see exactly what we're talking about for yourself.

Tucked away in the Bearpit, Flow is an intimate favourite of cultured foodies where vegetables are the star of the show. This truly hidden gem boasts a menu of creative small plates made with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Interestingly, they don't actually call themselves a vegetarian restaurant. According to Flow, the simple mission is to make great food that anyone will love, and it just happens to be meat-free. And they have succeeded - even devoted meat lovers will leave satisfied by the beautiful, full-flavoured dishes. The menu changes often, so you can be sure to find a new favourite with each visit.

A Bristol review focusing on vegetarian food just wouldn't be complete without falafel, would it? Luckily, we've got two venues in this line up. First up, this little hut in Castle Park serving a range of middle-eastern delights throughout the day. Edna's Kitchen is one of the cheapest lunch options in Bristol. You can get a filling lunch for less than a fiver, which isn't to be sniffed at for city centre prices. There are a few outdoor seats, but it's better suited for picking up lunch on the run. Our top tip? Grab yourself a mezze selection and have a picnic on the banks of Castle Park overlooking the water.

Eat a Pitta is a working-lunch favourite of busy Bristolians, and the falafels could easily become an addiction of ours. With three outlets across the city, you are never far from the freshly made mounds of brightly coloured Middle Eastern cuisine piled high and steaming with spices. The original St Nick's outlet draws the longest queues for food in Bristol, and you'll only need to order there once to discover why.

Okay, so this one's not strictly vegetarian. But as a Stokes Croft favourite that can be relied on for offering more vegetarian and vegan options than meat dishes, it truly deserves a mention. The food is creative, reliably yummy, and so fresh that the menu changes almost daily - there's even a mural map showing where their produce comes from. For just £10 you'll get a bowl of soup with bread followed by a hearty meal of your choice, plus change for a drink while you wait. Food aside, The Canteen is a great space to hangout in, play some ping pong, plus they have live music, for free, every night of the week. There's really no excuse not to check it out.

For years, pizza has been a carnivorous creation, and cheese has been a staple ingredient. Bristol's vegetarians and vegans need not fear, for we have combed the city for the best vegan and veggie pies there are to sample. If they're baking something more exciting than a margarita, we've got it.

One cannot live on cheese alone, trust us on this. If you're looking for something to perk you up and make you feel a little better, here is our list of the best places to pick up something that's good for you.

If you haven't been down to Cargo yet, what on earth have you been waiting for? From pork sharing boards to fresh hot pies, Chinese street food, cider and more, you can spend a few hours nibbling your way around.

Don't succumb to FOMO and take a look at our list of exciting events in the city this ban hliday and payday. From food tours to gin tasting, bottomless roasts and comedy, there's something for everyone.